Comments on: Did Alex Ovechkin curse out Bruce Boudreau for benching him?

By: danphipps01

danphipps01 — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 19:26:21 +0000

Boudreau’s trying to be that guy now, though. I say give him a chance. He’s an extremely perceptive guy and he knows how to produce. He’s got a roster that can win without Ovi producing, so now he feels he can actually be firmer about Ovi’s play. I think he should be given the chance to work on the problem himself first, now that he feels he can afford to lock horns with Ovi and not lose a game over it.

By: govtminion

govtminion — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 18:39:57 +0000

Remember, what, two years ago or so, when the debate was whether Ovechkin or Crosby was the best player in the league?

This is why we don’t debate that anymore. Ovechkin has turned in some pretty lame performances over the last year or so, and while he’s also put in some jaw-droppers as well, it feels like his work ethic just isn’t there lately. Then again, it’s felt that way watching the Caps in general. Perhaps it’s time to bring in a coach with a firmer hand.

By: stakex

stakex — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 18:20:52 +0000

I still say it was an idiotic move to not only have your best two players on the bench in the last minute when you needed a goal (Semin was riding the pine as well for those who didn’t notice), but also to cause a rift with your best player. Your best player who was actually pretty hot coming into this game with 4 goals and 2 assists in the previous four games. Its not like Ovechkin was riding a several game cold streak or anything… he was simply having an off night. You just don’t punish the best player in the world for one bad game when hes currently on a hot streak.

Sure, it worked out ok for Boudreau in the short term thanks in no small part to an extremely lucky bounce… but how about the long term? There already seemed to be some friction between Boudreau and Ovechkin before this game, and its hard to see that rift getting any smaller. If things should come to a head between the two… Boudreau is a coach that can’t finish, and Ovechkin is a super star. Who do you think is going to win that battle? I’d be veryyy careful if I was Boudreau.

By: washcaps21

washcaps21 — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:45:48 +0000

The guys on NHL Overtime said it best last night. If this didn’t work out Ovi would have boudreau eating out of his hand but because it worked Ovi is now bruces’ puppet. I’m all for benching a player who doesn’t perform well and honestly while watching the game last night I found myself saying “C’mon ovechkin fuckin skate!” He just seemed lackadaisical last night and was leaving passing lanes wide open for the Ducks. I think Ovi is trying to hit that homerun play. He tends to sit back and watch the play then once there’s a loose puck he either breaks for the blue line or tries to pick up the puck and dangle till there’s no tomorrow. He needs to go back to when he was throwing his body around making the play to get the puck rather than being a camper and waiting for the puck to get jarred loose then make a break for it.

By: botlecap

botlecap — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 13:24:58 +0000

Boudreau sure has some stones. Can you imagine all the grief he’d have gotten if they lost that game with Ovechkin on the bench? The clear message he’s sending to his team is that he wants to finally win something, and they’d better start playing that way if they want to be on the ice.

By: merchaholic

merchaholic — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 12:42:56 +0000

I hope Ovechkin pulls a Roy and says he’s not playing another game with them and wants a trade. Then goes and wins the cup with whatever team takes him.